Donald Trump is doubling down on his hardline stances on both immigration and Islam, issuing a statement today advocating for a complete shutdown of all Muslim immigration into the United States.
“Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our countries representatives can figure out what is going on,” Trump’s campaign said in a statement.” He noted that 51% of Muslims polled in a recent survey from the Center for Security Policy agreed that Muslims in America should be able to choose to be “governed according to Shariah.”
In reality, Shariah is a complex system of religious law which means different things to different Muslims, much like other religious codes. The Trump news release was less nuanced.
“Shariah authorizes atrocities as murder against non-believers who won’t convert, beheadings and more unthinkable acts that pose great harm to Americans, especially women.”
JUST IN: "Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" pic.twitter.com/5ST0qyge09
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) December 7, 2015
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
Recent attacks in San Bernadino, Calif. and in Paris have reinvigorated some of the more virulent strains of anti-Islam sentiments in the US.
Trump, of course, has made most of his bones in the presidential race on racial issues, making comments that offend many groups, particularly Hispanics and Muslims.
Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O’Malley quickly chimed in on the release:
.@realdonaldtrump removes all doubt: he is running for President as a fascist demagogue.
— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) December 7, 2015
Barring a group of people from entering the US based on what is now a protected class is not without historical precedent. In the late 19th century the Chinese Exclusion Act prevented Chinese workers from entering the U.S., in theory to protect American jobs. It is generally thought of now as racist and unfair.